Letter: Big money pours in to oppose pipelines

Thanks to the invaluable work of Vivian Kraus [who blogs from North Vancouver about foreign funding of the Canadian environmental movement and other topics], we know that a number of U.S. foundations—including the Hewlett Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Pew Foundation, the Packard Foundation and the Tides Foundation—have funnelled more than $300 million since 2000 into B.C. primarily to block Canada’s ability to export oil sands crude to markets outside North America and to prevent development generally.

That’s more than all our provincial parties have spent on campaigns during the same period.

Donations from these sources have also played a pivotal part in propelling Gregor Robertson into the Vancouver mayor’s seat.

I suspect most of us would prefer high-paying resource sector jobs to minimum wage service sector ones. Further, resource revenues could go a long way to reduce our provincial debt and pay for our social programs.

Adrian Dix has said British Columbians should make the decisions about resource development. But Mr. “NO” is opposed to nearly all resource development proposals.

So, are Adrian Dix’s priorities those of British Columbians, or those of the Rockefellers?